Caltrans Investigates Broken Rods on Bay Bridge

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Transportation officials are investigating why nearly three dozen threaded steel rods on the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge snapped when workers tightened the fittings.

The Contra Costa Times reports the rods - up to 16 feet long and as thick as a man's thigh - connect the bridge deck to the concrete cap that sits on top of the massive pier just east of the bridge tower. Caltrans officials are expected to brief the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on the problem Wednesday. The commission is overseeing the new $6.4 billion span construction with the state. Commission spokesman Randy Rentschler tells the newspaper the broken rods are not considered a structural problem and they are not expected to delay the scheduled Labor Day weekend opening.

Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.